Drawino or sketch board



F. B. LAWRENCE.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. I918.

PatentedSept 23, 1919.

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A ffcrrne i FRANKB. LAWRENCE, 0F WATERFORD, CONNECTICUT.

' DRAWING OR SKETCH BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application filed November 30, 1918. Serial No. 264,791.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterford, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drawing or Sketch Boards, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device in handy and portable form designated and known as The grapho-board by which the act of drawing, sketching or writing is facilitated and simplified b means of a compact convenience in whici thumb tacks or paste and the T square are eliminated, yet having provision for the production of positive straight lines either parallel or at right angles in connection with a pad or sheet securely fastened, and functioning with a fixed rail or guide governing the use of a set square. y removing the used sheet of the pad, the sheet below is instntly available for use. Suitable provision is also made for the storage of used sheets and other articles connected therewith.

It is intended and adapted for use by architects, engineers, artists, students, stenographers, aviators, in the home, camp,

field or air: is especially useful for invalids confined to bed or chairs, it can be used as conveniently from these positions as on table or desk. IVith this drawing board and a set square preferably of 60 of proper length, a scale rule and lead pencil with eraser, any drawing within the scope and size of the board can be made: not that it is designed to usurp the place of the regulation drawing board and T square but auxiliary thereto, and useful in making details, preliminary sketches or outlines for more extensive and elaborate drawings.

As a sketch board or writin tablet, the sheets as used are easily removed and placed within the pocket or receptacle provided in the device with a door and fastenings.

Preferably the device is made of wood, giving the requisite strength with lightness and in connection with the constructlon to obtain the best results in preserving its in tegrity of shape and trustworthiness. They may, however, be made of sheet metal, papler mach, wood pulp or similar substance molded and pressed into shape or combination of edge portions at right angles to wood, metal and pulp. In size they can be made in the longest the length of a 60 set square.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I show in detail a form of embodiment of the inven tion which to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, will be set forth fully in the fOllOWiIlg description. I do not necessarily restrict myself to this disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of an article involving the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line H of said Fig. 2.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The device comprises in its construction a body having a compartment or cavity in the upper side thereof. This compartment is desirably'but not essentially of rectangular form and it is adapted to receive within it 'a pad of paper or it may be a single sheet, the pad or sheet being preferably intended to closely fit the compartment. Underneath the compartment there is usually a chamber or pocket having a door normally closing the chamber to protect the article or articles therein. Along one or two sides of the compartment there extends a straight edge portion, there being in fact two of these straight each other. They may constitute continuations or extensions of parts of the body and they function when required'as T-squares.

As will be understood the article comprises a body the shape of which may vary and which may be of suitable material. The body shown, is denoted in a general way by 2; in shape it is rectangular and somewhat oblong although this may not always be necessary. One side, or as it might be considered the front side of the body has an opening 3, providing access to the interior of the box-like body for the introduction of things thereinto or removal of the same therefrom. The chamber or interior of the body may be utilized for the receppart to correspond with tion and storage of sheets of paper or various drafting implements such as triangles, pencils, erasers, etc. For additional strength I may dispose within the body 2 the strips 4 and 5 fastened to the bottom and top of the body or the upper and lower ends thereof as may be desired.

The closure member 6 normally closes the front open side of the body 2. As shown it is hinged as by a pin 6' between the front projecting ends of the upper and lower walls or sides of the body. When the closuremember or door 6 is shut, the catch 7 on it engages a fixed part of the body 2.

As shown the top side or upper end wall and the back side of the body 2 are extended as at 9 and 10 above the top of the body. Upon said top are fastened two flat strips 11 and 12 which meet at their lower front ends, these meeting ends being beveled off and in abutment to form a miter joint. The strips 11 and 12 fit fiatwise against the body and are united thereto in some suitable way as by glue or fastenings. The upper continuations 9 and 10 and the strips 11 and 1.2 jointly form a rectangular space or pocket 13 upon the top of the box-like body 2 and into this the pad 1a or a sheet or sheets of paper are positioned to function as may be desired, that is either for drafting, sketching, writing or other purposes. It will be seen that the lower and the back ends of the strips 11 and 12 are cut outto receive the lower and front side terminals of the extensions 9 and 10 of the upper end and front side of the body 2. It should be noted that the upward extension 9 of the top side of the body is coextensive with the width of said body and that the upward extension 10 of the back side of said body is for the complete depth or length of the same. Those two extensions 9 and 10 therefore present straight edge portions for a set square or triangle as shown. Said straight edge portions are in abutment at a corner of the body, the abutting portions constituting a miter joint. It will of course be understood that the upper edge of the upward extensions 9 and 10 of the top side and the back side of the body 2 extend above the upper flat surfaces of the strips 11 and 12 so that they may properly act in the manner intended as a receptacle for a pad or sheet.

It will be clear that I provide a body, the upper surface of which constitutes a support, the upper side of the body having rectangular border means around the top of the body, a part of the border means extending above another border part. This provides the space or compartment to which I have alluded and at the same time provides for the accurate use of a set square, triangle or equivalent tool.

What I claim is:

1. An article of the class described having a box-like body open on one side, the upper side of the body being adapted to support a pad and the body having rectangular border means to surround and hold the pad against movement, a part of the border means extending above another part thereof to serve as a guide for a set square or triangle thereby providing means for the production or positive straight lines, the body being provided with a closure for the open side thereof, by opening which access may be had to the interior of the box-like body.

2. An article of the class described comprising a box-like body open on one side, one end portion and one side portion of the body being at right angles to each other and being extended above the upper surface of said body for their complete respective lengths, strips at right angles to each other fastened to said upper surface and presenting with said upwardly extended portions a rectangular space to receive a pad..or the like sustained on the body the extended portions and strips surrounding the pad, the upper edges of said extended portions being above the corresponding surfaces of said strips to serve as a guide for a set square or a triangle, thereby providing means for the production of positive straight lines either parallel or at right angles, and a closure for the open side of said body.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK B. LAWRENCE.

Witnesses: Y

HEATH SUTHERLAND, CAROL E. BRUMLEY.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01 ratents,

Washington, D. 0." 

